What must occur during fertilization in humans in order to produce a male child?

1 Answer
Jun 17, 2016

The egg cell (ovum) must be fertilized by a 'male' sperm cell (spermatozoon).

Explanation:

Egg cells and sperm cells each have 23 chromosomes, in stead of the 23 pairs of chromosomes that exist in normal cells.
One of these 23 chromosomes is allways an X in egg cells; in sperm cells they can be either an X or a Y, in (almost) equal numbers.
After fertilization the male X or Y combines with the female X, to make either an XX or an XY pair, with the XX forming a female, and the XY forming a male embryo-foetus-child.